Gas pressure regulator



May 10, 1966 HAMMON 3,250,288

GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed Feb. 25, 1963 Q 3/ A 39 1 43 r 2/ .34 2 12 42 40 24 25 1 INVENTOR.

George L. Hamman 3,259,288 GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR United States Patent George L. Hammon, Oakland, Calif, assignor to Hamdiaphragm to by-pass the excess of gas which would otherwise be forced upon the patient or diver. Such rupture, while preventing an oversupply of gas, creates a second problem in that either none, or a severely di minished supply of gas is provided for the user.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved gas regulator in which the diaphragm serves as a by-pass valve and which cannot rupture.

Another object is to provide a diaphragm of the above described character in which the pressure of the diaphragm upon its seat may be adjusted within limits to predetermine the point at which the diaphragm acts as a by-pass valve.

Another object is to provide a by-pass valve having an increased size without increasing the size of the regulator.

A further object is to provide the described diaphragm with an improved seat which prevents cold welding of the parts.

Still another object is to provide a sealed gas valve and filter unit which is of economical construction, compact in size, which cannot be disassembled, and which is easily 7 replaceable as a unit.

Still another object is to provide a compressible nut within the body of the regulator, which nut receives a portion of the adjustment mechanism and the compression of which is adjustable to provide the desired friction between the nut and adjustment mechanism.

A further object is to provide a gas regulator which is simplified in form, more economical to produce and which has safety features not previously provided in gas regulators.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the drawing which shows the complete gas regulator in section.

The main body of the regulator is generally indicated at- 16 and comprises a pair of body portions 11 and 12 which, as one of the final assembly processes, are threaded together at 13.

A knob 14 is provided for adjusting the compression of a spring 15 which tends to hold a diaphragm 16 and an insert 17 in valve opening position.

Gas, under high pressure, enters through a hole 18 into a valve chamber 19 which is threaded at 20 to receive a combined valve and filter unit generally indicated at 21. The gas, under regulated pressure, enters a chamber 22 and passes through a bore 23 to an opening which is threaded as at 24 to receive a gas transmitting fitting such as 25.

The previously mentioned valve unit 21 comprises a valve section similar to one shown and fully described in the'Patent No. 2,597,478, issued May 20, 1952, except that in the present case the valve unit also includes a gas filtering section. The valve unit comprises a body portion 26, counterbored at 27 to provide a chamber extending substantially the length of the valve body, starting at 3,256,288 Patented May 10, 1966 ice the bottom and extending upwardly where it terminates in a small gas opening. The opening is formed by a circular shoulder 29 which serves as a valve seat. The valve stem comprises an assembly including a sleeve 30 formed from a piece of hexagon stock which is partially reduced at the upper end thereof and also intermediate the ends.

The edges of the remaining hexagon shaped portions pro-. vide supporting surfaces which slide within the bore 27.-

When the valve is opened, as described hereinafter, gas flows around the outside of the sleeve 30 and between the fiat portions of the hexagon stock and the inside of bore 27. The sleeve 30 has a vertical counterbore 31 extending from the bottom thereof to near the upper end where the bore terminates. A hole 32 is drilled in the upper end of the sleeve. A portion of bore 31 is threaded to receive a threaded plug 33, the upper end 34 of which is reduced and surrounded by a washer 35 of suitable material forming a valve stem face. The plug 34 also has a broached bore 36 which receives the point of a guide 37 for a spring 38. The bottom of the spring 38 is seated upon a perforated plate 39 which has a dimple formed in the center thereof to center the spring. A filter disc 40 of sintered metal lies adjacent the perforated plate 39. A cap 41, having an opening 42 therein, surrounds the filter disc and plate and extends over the bottom of the body portion 26. The latter has a groove 43 cut therein, and upon completion of the assembly of the valve unit 21, a portion of the cap 41 is pressure rolled into the groove 43 to permanently seal the valve and filter unit together.

It will be noted that the compression of spring 38 is adjustable under control of the position of plug 33 within sleeve 30. Such adjustment is made under conditions of testing prior to the rolling of the cap 41 into permanent position in the grooves 43. Since the spring38 is adjusted and sealed within the unit, it is tamper proof and under normal conditions of use need not be re-adjusted. The filter unit 40 may require replacement at intervals; however, since replacement of the filter by those unskilled in the art could result in misadjustment of the compression of spring 38, the unit has been so constructed as not to be capable of being disassembled without destroying the cap 41. Therefore, such replacement may be done only under factory controlled conditions, and in commercial practice, replacement units are provided rather than permitting repair of the filter in the field of use.

When the unit 21 is completely assembled, as described above, it is threaded into the bore of the body portion 12 into the position shown, the upper head 44 being of such configuration as to permit tightening of the unit by means of an appropriate socket wrench. The above described assembly is made prior to threading the body portion 11 on to portion 12.

The upper body portion 11 has a large central bore 50 in which annular shoulders 51 and 52 are formed. A nylon collar 53 formed with two different outside diameters is inserted with the smaller diameter projecting through an opening 54 of body portion 11. A threaded hole 55 extends through a sidewall of body portion 11 and receives a lock screw 56. The nylon nut 53 has a central bore threaded at 57 to receive a threaded adjustment screw 58. The latter is locked to knob 14 by a nut 59, the position of the knob on the screw being adjustable. A cap 60 covers the upper extending portion of screw 58.

The body portion 11 has an internal recess 61 into which is inserted an expansible lock washer to hold the collar 53 in place. The previously mentioned lock screw 56 is then screwed into the collar 53, compressing the latter into the desired frictional engagement with screw 58.

The bottom end of the screw 58 is counterbored to receive a plastic plug 63, the bottom end thereof abutting a depression in a spring button 64. The bottom portion of the button is reduced to form a guide neck which is inserted within the top of the spring 15. The bottom end of the spring is seated on a diaphragm rupture plate 65, the center of which is apertured to receive an upper extending neck 66 of the diaphragm 16.

Plate 65 comprises a hexagon plate, the corners of which underlie the inner circumferential shoulder of a spring plate 73, described hereinafter. The metal insert 17 has an upper portion which is received by a chamber 67 formed in neck 66. An annular shoulderS on the insert 17 lies against circular extensions 69 of the diaphragm 17. The bottom reduced portion 79 of the insert is provided to contact the upper end 34 of the previously described valve stem.

It will be noted that the one piece diaphragm has no metal parts attached thereto, or projecting therethrough, thus providing a leak proof unit having flexibility and strength not known in prior art devices. A shoulder 71 is provided on the perimeter of the diaphragm, which shoulder overlies the upper end of the body portion 12. A resilient ring 72, made of plastic, rubber or other suitable material, lies within a groove cut in the top end of body portion 12 and the underside of the diaphragm lies on the ring. The diaphragm is forced into gas tight and sealing cont-act with the ring by a nylon spring plate 73 and a compression spring 74. One end of the spring lies against the plate and the opposite end of the spring lies against the shoulder 51 of the body port-ion 11.

The compression of spring 74 is adjusted by threading the body portion 11 onto portion 12 by predetermined amounts. A test condition may be established by removing the valve unit 21 and permitting the flow of gas, under outside regulated pressure into chamber 22 while the exhaust tube 23 is closed. The body portions 11 and 12 are then adjusted relative to each other until the diaphragm permits by-pass action to occur. The position of portions 11 and 12 are then scribed or otherwise noted as reference points. The regulator then is disassembled, the valve unit inserted, and the regulator is reassembled with portions 11 and 12 being screwed together to the reference points noted.

With the parts in the position shown the gas valve 2932 is closed and gas, under high pressure, at 18 is prevented from passing through the regulator. Rotation of knob 14 forces down plug 63, the spring button 64, and compresses the spring 15, thus moving the diaphragm 16 and the tip 70 of insert 17 into depressing engagement with the valve stem. At this time gas flows through the valve, into chamber 22 and out of the regulator through bore 23.

The entry of gas, under pressure, into chamber 22 forces the diaphragm upwardly thus permitting the valve to move toward a closing position; however, a condition of balance is struck between the pressure of the gas and the compression of spring 15 as determined by the adjustment of the knob, thus permitting the desired amount of gas to pass through the regulator.

In previous known regulators, an excess of pressure on the gas side of the diaphragm such as in chamber 22, has resulted in rupture of the diaphragm and loss of pressure on the outlet end of the regulator.- According to the present invention, such an excess of pressure does not rupture the diaphragm but merely moves the diaphragm upwardly off of the sealing ring 72 against the pressure of spring 74. Gas then passes into the chamber 50 and escapes through holes 76 in the side walls of body portion 11. Meanwhile, gas is supplied through the outlet 23.

If the condition causing the excess of pressure in chamber 22 should correct itself, the regulator resumes normal operation with the spring 74 forcing the diaphragm into re-sealing engagement with the ring 72; however, even if the regulator should not correct itself, gas will continue to be supplied to the user. In the case of a diver using the regulator, the escape of gas through the holes 76 would immediately indicate to the diver that the regulator was by-lpassing gas and that a limited amount of gas would be available for further operations or rising to the surface.

Under some conditions, it has been observed that the bypass of gas between the diaphragm and the ring 72 tends to cause the ring to float in its seat, thus diminishing the by-pa-ss effect and causing a fiutter of the diaphragm. For this purpose, a vent hole 77 has been drilled in the body portion 12 beneath the ring and communicating with chamber 5%). The vent hole permits exhaust of' gas and immediate re-seating of the ring.

It will be observed that the outer edge of the diaphragm contacts only the rubber ring in performing a sealing function and that cold welding which has been known to occur between plastic and metal parts under pressure, is therefore avoided, with the result that reliability of operation is retained.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an oxygen regulator which is more reliable in operation and more economical than previously known regulators. In addition to avoiding rupture of the diaphragm, which could be fatal under certain circumstances, I have provided a combined valve and filter unit which is tamper proof, even though the uninitiated should disassemble the regulator.

The invention claimed is:

1. A gas pressure regulator comprising:

a main body having a chamber therein,

a diaphragm dividing said chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber,

a high pressure gas inlet passageway in said body leading from the extension of said body,

a low pressure gas outlet from said first chamber to the exterior of said body, and a gas valve in said high pressure passageway; said diaphragm having a. continuous outer edge the entire portion of which is in contact with an interior shoulder of said body;

compressible spring means located within said second chamber body for yieldably holding said outer edge of the diaphragm in gas tight relationship with said shoulder; and means for adjusting the compression of said spring means.

2. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 1, including vent holes in the body portion defining a portion of the second chamber whereby gas under a predetermined high pressure in said first chamber causes said holding means to yield and permit gas to escape around said diaphragm into the second chamber and out through the vent holes.

3. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 2 in which said body and shoulder are made of metal and said diaphragm is made of plastic,

a recess in said shoulder, and

a plastic ring located in said recess between the shoulder and said diaphragm to serve as a gas tight seating surface for said diaphragm and to maintain said diaphragm spaced apart from the metal shoulder.

4. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 1 in which said valve comprises a valve seat and a valve stem normally standing in closed relation thereto, said diaphragm being formed with a gas tight cup therein,

said cup having walls formed perpendicularly to the plane of said diaphragm,

a device slidably carried within said cup,

said device having a flange overlying an outer rim of said cup,

a portion of said device standing opposite the valve stem, and

means carried in said second chamber for yieldably moving said diaphragm and said device to engage said stem and to open the valve.

5. A gas pressure regulator comprising:

a main body having a chamber therein,

a diaphragm dividing said chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber,

a high pressure gas inlet passageway in said body leading from the extension of said body,

a low pressure gas outlet from said first chamber to the exterior of said body, and a gas valve in said high pressure passageway;

said diaphragm having a continuous outer edge the entire portion of which lies adjacent an interior shoulder of said body;

a recess in said shoulder;

a plastic ring located in said recess between the shoulder and said diaphragm to serve as a gas tight seating surface for said diaphragm and to maintain said diaphragm spaced apart from the shoulder;

' means located Within said body for yieldably holding said outer edge of the diaphragm in gas tight relationship with said plastic ring; and

a vent hole located in said body extending from said recess and ultimately venting gases to the exterior of said body, said vent hole normally being closed by said plastic ring.

6. A gas pressure regulator comprising:

a main body having a chamber therein,

a diaphragm dividing said chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber,

a high pressure gas inlet passageway in said body leading from the extension of said body,

a low pressure gas outlet from said first chamber to the exterior of said body, and a gas valve in said high pressure passageway;

said diaphragm having a continuous outer edge the entire portion of which lies adjacent an interior shoulder of said body;

a recess in said shoulder,

a plastic ring located in said recess between the shoulder and said diaphragm to serve as a gas tight seating surface for said diaphragm and to maintain said diaphragm spaced apart from the metal shoulder;

means located within said body for yieldably holding said outer edge of the diaphragm in gas tight rela tionship with said plastic ring;

said valve comprising a valve seat and a valve stem normally standing in closed relation thereto,

said diaphragm being formed with a gas tight cup therein,

a device carried within said cup,

a portion of said device standing opposite the valve stem, and

means carried in said second chamber for yieldably moving said diaphragm and said device to engage said stem and to open the valve.

7. A gas pressure regulator as defined in claim 6 in which the valve stem and valve seat are carried within a unit threaded into said first body portion between the high pressure passageway and the first chamber, and a gas filter sealed within said unit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,735 6/191'0 Tonge 13714O X 2,195,728 4/1940 Jones 137454.5 2,663,121 12/1953 Ramsey 137116.3 2,747,607 5/1956 Matasovic 137-505.11 X 2,854,207 9/1958 Hamrnon 137-64 FOREIGN PATENTS 708,265 5/1954 Great Britain,

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Examiner. 

1. A GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR COMPRISING: A MAIN BODY HAVING A CHAMBER THEREIN, A DIAPHRAGM DIVIDING SAID CHAMBER INTO A FIRST CHAMBER AND A SECOND CHAMBER, A HIGH PRESSURE GAS INLET PASSAGEWAY IN SAID BODY LEADING FROM THE EXTENSION OF SAID BODY, A LOW PRESSURE GAS OUTLET FROM SAID FIRST CHAMBER TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID BODY, AND A GAS VALVE IN SAID HIGH PRESSURE PASSAGEWAY, SAID DIAPHRAGM HAVING A CONTINUOUS OUTER EDGE THE ENTIRE PORTION OF WHICH IS IN CONTACT WITH AN INTERIOR SHOULDER OF SAID BODY; COMPRESSIBLE SPRING MEANS LOCATED WITHIN SAID SECOND CHAMBER BODY FOR YIELDABLY HOLDING SAID OUTER EDGE OF THE DIAPHRAGM IN GAS TIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SHOULDER; AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE COMPRESSION OF SAID SPRING MEANS. 